Traction-wheel.



vv. s. PLUMMER.

` TRAGTION WHEEL. AP'LIOATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1910.

1,008,500. Patented sept. 19,1911

' afg/6MM UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEE 'WILLIAM' S. PLUMMER, 0F ST. LOUIS,IVIISSOURI.4

TRACTioir-WHEEL.

Application filed September 29, 1910. Serial No. 584,553. I'

To allwhom it may concern:

Be 1t known that L'VILLIM S. PLUM- MER, ai citizen of the United States,residwheel of my improved construction', parts thereof being in sectionfor the purpose of a clear illustration. Fig: 2 is a vertical sectiontaken approximately on vthe line 2--2 of Fig. 1 with the axle orspindle;and a portion of the hub thereon shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a planview of a portion of` the rim or periphery of a wheel of my iniprovedconstruction.

My invention relates to a traction wheel particularly intended for heavyvehicles and transportable machines, such as traction engines,threshingmachines, plowing machines and grain sowing machines. v

The object of my invention is toprodiice a comparatively light, strongand durable wheel having a rim or periphery so formed as to materiallyincrease the tractive effect between the periphery of the wheel and thesurface of the ground during the operation.

of the wheel and further to provide a wheel which, when in service,will'not slip or skid while traveling over a softor yielding surface.

A further object of my invention is to construct a wheel having aperiphery made up of a series of movable sections, each of which ishinged at one end so as to be swung outwardly and inwardlyby meansarranged within the Wheel and extending radially from lthe hub thereof.Y.

To the 'above'l purposes 'my invention` con sist's incertain-novelfeatures of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter Imorefully described and claimed.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing 1 designates an axleor spindle and mounted thereupon is a hub 2 provided with a disk 3.Loosely mounted on the axle or spindle immediately adJacent the hub is adisk 4 in which is formed an eccentric cani groove 5, and formed -on orfixed to this disk is a sleeve 6 which 'embraces the Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented spindle 1. Arranged to rotate freely uponzvk the sleeve 6 is aring .-7 and projecting ra-- dially from this ring,*and fro'nrthe disk 3is a series of spokes 8, arr`anged in pairs., .Tlie' ICE. s

outer ends of the pairs ofI spokesS'are-united by means of transverselydisposed cross bars* 9 and formed on or iiXed tothe outer ffa'ces ofsaid cross bars are transversely disposed ribs 10. Formed on or fixed.ytothe sides of the bars 9 are circular rims or side plates-11, theouteredges of which lie flush with the outer faces of said bars. Thespaces between the circular side platesifllfand the cross bars 9 areoccupied `by movablesections 12, each of which is'hiii'ged at its rearend to a. part 9a ofthe correspondingcross bar 9 by means o .a pin ,orbolt 13. Each section lits snugly in the `space between the circularrims or side plates .and a pair of the cross bars 9, and all' dirt,gravel. andthe like -is prevented from passing'-t-lir0ugh the peripheryof the wheel, by reason of the perfect working fit of the movingsections. f

Formed on the outer face` of-each hinged section, and at the forward-endthereof is an outwardly projecting rib 111 andforined on the sideedgesof .eaclnsection'are outwardly projecting ribs 15. The face of eachsection between the ribs 14 andqrl is'pref.- erably made concave, thusformingashal.- low recessor pocket 16. v'

Pivotally connected to theinner face yand forward end of 'each hingedsection is vthe outer end ot a rod 17 the inner endl lof which isprovided with a cross piece 18,"one

end thereofcarrying an anti-friction'roller 19, which traverses thegroove f5 `formed in the disk 4:. The opposite end of each cross pieceis arranged to vslide, in a cliannelsh'aped guide way 20 vcarried by theinner end fof 'the corresponding one of tlieouter series 'o'f spokes 8and the disk. .y n

Formed on or fixed to th'efsleeveG-is' an arm 21. to the upperend of'which isA pivotally connectedloneendofa rod and the opposite; end ofthis rod is 'connected 'by I means of a knuckle joint 23110 a A screwthreaded rodv Vhisrod 21" operates provi-ded through atixed bearing Q5andis withan operating 'handle Q6.'

The mechanism justfdeseribed provides means for shifting the position ofthe disk 4, the eccentric groove in which controls the outward andinward movements .of the hinged sections. Then it is desired to transmitrotarv motion from the traction wheel, a' sprocket-wheel 27 isviXedtoone side ofthe frame of the wheel.

lVhen a vehicle or machineequipped with wheels of my improvedconstruction is traversmg' ground which is comparatively soft and4yielding the hand wheel26 is manipuhinges, and ycausing the forwardends of said sections to engage in the ground. As these sectionsl areswung upon their hinges their forward ends are moved outward away fromthe normal peripherysof the wheel, and assaid sections engage thegroundV a small portion of earth is-compressed inthe form of. a lowmound, in the pocket of each section, and the ribs 14 and 1,5- infrontof and atthe sides of the compressed-mound engage the earth in suchamanher as to eiiectually prevent rot-ary and lateral slipping of ,thewheel. kAfter the hinged sections thus engage the ground, and the wheelmoves forward said sections aresuccessively drawn into their normalpositions between the circular side plates or rims, by reason of therollers 19 traveling 'into the'concentric portion .of the groovev 5.When the wheel istraversing hard ground or pavement, the disk 4 isshifted into the position shown by dottedlines .in Fig. 1, and thusv the*sections move outward and' then inward to'normal positions, beforecoming in contact' with the ground. i

It will be readilyi i nderstood that the disk ,l1 can be adjust-ed so asto cause @the forward ends of the 'hingedsectionstoswing to their kouterlimit ofmovement' either'in front of 'the engagement ofthe hingedsections with' the groundfmaterially increases the tractive effectofj'the wheel JuponA the ground and eti'ectually prevents the wheel fromslipping orskidding.

I claim: In atraction wheel of thepclass described, a hinged memberforming a port-ion rotation of said wheel.

of the tread otithe'fiiheel', the outer 'tace of lwhich member` isconcave, which member is hinged at one end to the rim of the wheel,

and means foriswing'ing said member upon its hinge to partially move itstree end away' from and toward the periphery of the wheel atpredetermined periods glie i' rtw* .v

'f Q. In a traction ;wheel of the classdescribed, a segmental memberhinged at one end and forming a portion of-the,-treacof the wheel, atransverse rib formed the outer face of said member on the endopposite@the hinged end, and meanswithn the wheel for positivelv moving the freeend of said segmental member away from and-toward the periphery 'of thewheel at predetermined points in the rotation of said wheel.

3. A traction wheel having a rim comprising a pair of circular plates,cross bars between said plates, a segmental member hinged at one end toeach cross bar, the outer faces of all of the segmental members beingconcave,.and means within the wheel for successively moving eachsegmental member outward and then inward relative to. the periphery ofthe wheel at a predetermined period during the rotation of said wheel. v

4. In a traction wheel, a rim comprising a pair 'of'side plates, crossbars fixed to the side plates, lugs on said cross bars, -pins seated insaid lugs and cross bars, movable sections hinged to said pins, whichsections occupy. the openings betweentheside plates and the? cross bars,and means for successively swinging each segmental member upon itshingeoutwardly and then inwardly relative to the periphery of the wheel.

`5. In a traction wheel, `a rim comprising a pair of sidel plates, crossbars fixed'to the side plates, lugs on said cross bars, pins seated in.sa-id lugs and cross bars, movable sections hinged to said pins, whichlsections occupy the openings between the side plates and the crossbars, means for successively swinging each segmental member upon ltshinge outwardly and then inwardly relative to the periphery of -thewheel and an adjustable -member connected to a portion of the segmentalmember moving mear.; for changing the position thereof.

In testimonywhereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwowitnesses, this 23d day of September, 1910.

WILLIAM S. PLUMMER.

Vitnesses:

M. P. SMrrH, J. W. CLIFT.

